As a new member, this website is great with alot of good information. I have a 79 Z and I am pulling the motor and trans due to blown head gaskets. So, it's time to clean and detail the motor. It has 97,000 miles and it needs to be freshened up. I have been pulling numbers off of everything as I go and there are some numbers that don't make sense. I need some expert opinions from you guys. I am the second owner on this car and everything appears to be original. It is a California car and has spent it's entire life in California. The car was in storage for 12 years until I got it. With that said, here are my questions.

The carb is a Rochester Q-Jet. The number is 17059507. By Stegmillers breakdown, it tells me that 49 is for a 1979. So, where does the 59 come from? Secondly the second 5 is for California emissions. The last 7 is for a manual transmission. Here is where I get confused. My car is an automatic. What I have read on this website is that all California Z28's in 1979 were automatics!! So, why would this Q-Jet be for a manual transmission and be listed with California emissions? The date code on this carb is 1719 CSS, which tells me that is was built on the 171st day of 1979 but what does CSS stand for?

O.K. now the Intake manifold. Casting number is 14007376. Under that is GM K-8. I can't find that casting number anywhere in the decoding information.
And what does the K-8 stand for?

Exhaust manifolds. Left side is numbered 364747. Right side is numbered 346248. I found the 346248 listed under the 1977 350 c.i. motor. The 364747 I can't find anywhere. Also, the left side manifold has 35LH under the casting number and the right side has 18RH. What do those numbers mean?

The block and head casting numbers are good. The block is stamped with the VIN # . So far everything else matches. I just need help with the above numbers at this point!

I appreciate any help anyone can give me

Thanks

The carb... # is correct for a 1979 Camaro 350 A/T with California emissions, or a federal emissions M/T 350

Exhaust: 1979 350 Camaro:
LEFT ident # 364753
RIGHT ident # can be 336708 or 346222
Interchanges from 1976 to 1980 v8 camaro (among other things). Casting # changes in 1980.

The 35 & 18 could be mold #'s. The L and R would be a quick way to identify what side you're dealing with.


I'm looking into the other #'s.

The intake casting # is valid for a 1979 350 4bbl application calling for a cast iron manifold. (i.e. an LM1)

K 8 is a portion of the casting date code... November 1978.

Hey thanks for the quick response! Any idea what the CSS is next to the date code on the carb?

So it's safe to say that somewhere in time the original owners changed the exhaust manifolds with the ones that are currently on the car? And the numbers you gave me are the only numbers they used on the 79's? Reason I ask is that I'm going to a chevy swap meet this weekend and I want to find original numbered exhaust manifolds to restore the car to 100% original GM parts witht the proper casting numbers.

I'm hoping to get the trans and block out of the car tonight. I will thoroughly research what I can, but I may have more questions later!! Once again thanks for your help

If you get your car back together, remember that Morris has Cruise Night 4-5 times every summer with as many as 600 cars at it. Not that many 2nd gens but pretty cool selection of cars. Tomorrow night is the first of the season.

Yeah, I've heard Morris has pretty cool cruise nights. I should just bring the vette instead of waiting until the Z is done. Wilmington is having a cruise night on June 23rd. I'll definitely be in town for that one. If ya get a chance come on over. I see the potential for a cold beer and I'll buy the first round!!